Pedro Valle-Inclan

Hi, well I hope by now you're felling better after you wrote that post. my surgery's in 45 days, and I'm a mix of excited, nervous and a little scared but that could change dramatically as it gets closer. I have an ex-wife/best friend who is the only big naysayer who is almost pleading for me to cancel it. That's not the most comforting thing in the world. I'm definitely expecting this to be pretty tough, that I'll feel awful for a while and probably have my "No Pain Meds" dictum put to a real test. I'll have 11 days post op (February school vacation)and then have to be in front of my high school classes, which I expect to teach sitting down for as long as needed. That's my biggest worry, that it'll be real hard being back at work, especially without anything stronger than liquid Tylenol. Well feel better, and I'm right behind you here! Merry Christmas to you all!!! pedrito

Has anyone just veered to vegan style eating? My surgery is on Feb 10th, very excited but nervous about the psychological reasons I over ate all those years. I'm thinking it would be a gereat time to start to eat the way I should have all these years: mostly vegetarian, very very little sugar, anything white or processed OUT. Any thoughtsz?Z thanks, pedro

Hi folks, I've lived on Advil, aspirin and Tylenol for many years due to chronic back and joint pains, but my surgeon expressed concern about this, essentially asking me what I intend to do about such pain after surgery because I'll no longer be able to take such medications, especially not on a regular basis. Now obviously I am hopeful that a certain portion of that pain will be more manageable 80 to 100 lbs lighter, in addition to a strengthened core and legs due to the improved ability to exercise. Any comments or observations about this issue would be appreciated, thanks, Pedro

This is great, thanks for the suggestions. It was a topic that was worrying me a bit. But I also believe a much stronger abdominal core will help a lot. I bought a gym membership yesterday, here goes nuttin!!!

Man...!! thank you, kind folks, so much. Of course I'm a bit nervous here some 7 weeks till surgery, but this site helps alleviate the loneliness I feel concerning having the surgery. I will not be telling many people at all.

Hi yeah sure I thought everyone had to but guess it varies. I had to lose 15 lbs, reduce size of fatty liver, drop my A1C all before he'd operate on me. Well I did all those things that had me nervous, so now surgery all set for this Feb 10th; very excited, strangely not very nervous or scared but there's time to get that way. Just thinking for the first time that it might be odd getting some attention for the first time from the opposite sex, and the idea of clothes, etc... oh boy! hang in there

Hi folks, this forum has been terrific for me and I'm sure for many others. I just so appreciate how thoughtfully and quickly people responded to my concerns, thank you all. Well just a few hours ago the doctor's nurse called and the date is set, Wed February 10th 2016; it's suddenly very, very real! I'm very excited and pleased, but a bit nervous too. They had turned me down a few months ago because I hadn't held up my end of things, I hadn't lost enough weight, had an A1C of 11.5 and too fatty a liver. Well I turned all that around and so now we're set. I do fear that my underlying mental illness, the Bipolar situation, that made me a fat guy and before that, a druggy guy, might derail this drastic lifestyle change, but I've never been so well-treated in my life in terms of therapy, recovery, friends, great job, meditation, exercise program, Trileptal, and all maintained for a good spell. I'm 60, 6 feet tall, and 258lbs with crazy joint and back pain as well as all the comorbid elements, I had been 282 at my first appointment. Anyway, though some might be loathe to talk about this topic, I'd very much like hear about the worst things about having the operation and the experience post-op that one doesn't hear too much about. Anything you could throw out there would be appreciated. That and any suggestions for both before and after surgery that might make life easier would also be great. Thanks so much, Pedro

Hi, I just got my operation confirmation date two hours ago; all of a sudden it's real, very real. Yes, I'm nervous, but I too calm myself with the stats, I even asked my doc, "Hey, you lose anyone yet??" He said no. If I don't do this, my weight and insane yo yo dieting will do me in anyway, I too have lost and regained so many times. I think roughly I've lost around 300 lbs over the years but always gained it back. The joint and back pain alone make me ant to take the risk, not to mention the diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP, you name it!! Yes brother, we can do this!! You know you're not alone, the best to us, pedro

HI folks, it's Sept 28th and I'm having gastric bypass Roux-en-y on December 19th. A few things: For around 4 months, I've been walking fast and shooting baskets for around 45 minutes a day, meditating, and eating healthy (but too much). But night time eating is killing me and so I haven't lost the 15 I'm supposed to lose, though I am down about 5lbs. I feel pretty darn outta control from dinner time on. Any suggestions and also should I switch to one of the bariatric diets NOW? Please advise, getting nervous here mostly about the incredible radical change that's about to happen, plus a bit fearful about pain post op (recovering addict) and about messing up eating wise post op, thanks, pete

Hi folks, this exchange has been so helpful, I can't even tell you. The good news is I have most everyone in my life on board; brother, friends, even somewhat holistic minded GP, all except my ex wife/best friend, who thinks it's "too early" - like I should see if the good steps going on in my life now, like solid therapy, walking, better diet, etc will do the trick, but she doesn't realize how many times I've been here before, things going well, losing weight and all, only to have it all come crashing down again. I've lost a good 250 lbs or so in my life, in 50 lbs increments that always have come back. Enough. Plus in truth, even if they weren't all on board, I'd now do it anyway. Yes, I was a bit unnerved reading that 1.5 people in 200 die with this procedure, but not enough to stop me. So I do have a question or two for you good people: I'm a bit concerned with the post-op pain situation, as I'm a fairly long term recovering addict.Will it be possible to grit one's way through it? And when you say years of documented obesity, isn't that easy with my GP's years of taking my weight at office visits that clearly show the story? Anyway, most importantly, I'd love to continue to hear of your progress in these post -op days and months, thanks, Pete

Hi folks, I'm a teacher and I'm scheduled for over the school Christmas holiday. I feel very confident in my doctor, Dr Lederman, but I'm concerned I didn't research enough which procedure to do, especially now on this forum and realizing there are so may different procedures. I like the idea of the forceful help in behavior mod of the R n Y gastric bypass, though the lifetime restrictive diet and "punishment" is getting me nervous. How do people decide which procedure?? I've got almost the comorbid elements, you name it. I'm a 59 year old, 6 foot 265 pound man.

Wow, thanks Cervidae and James, I needed that...! I have to say your two responses really cut through some of my fears and reinforced some of my positive feelings about the RNY. My doctor, too, seems to be recommending RNY and I tend to agree, many of my reasons being what you folks just delineated. I love what you said about a serious tool to help in eating what I should have been eating anyway; don't know about you guys, but I've started trying to eat really well many times, trying the five or six small meals concept, trying vegan, etc and I liked them but just couldn't maintain them. I really welcome the chance, the chance to try again with a new powerful tool. Plus I've been walking pretty consistently for a few months and that's heartening. It's been scary the last few years as the co-morbid elements racked up; the high BP, Cholesterol, diabetes II, the damn C-Pap, crazy joint pain; man, enough is enough. I mean sure, It's about emotional over eating for me, but I've had the best treatment in place for over 8 months now on my own with therapy and walking so I think I'm ready to do this thing!! Thanks again, pete